Witham Town’s assistant manager Brad King praised their defence as they claimed a point from a 1-1 draw with AFC Sudbury at Spa Road.

The point moved Town up a place to sixth in the Ryman League division one north table and they are now just one short of the play-off positions.

Scott Pethers put Witham ahead from the penalty spot after nine minutes after Sam Taylor had been felled in the box.

But that was only one of three early penalty area incidents.

The hosts had already been denied what looked like a stonewall spot-kick after John Watson went down in the Sudbury area under a challenge and the visitors had failed to convert one of their own.

Paul White brought down Russell Pond to lead the referee to point to the spot at the other end, but Sudbury’s James Baker could only hammer the ball against the post and then do exactly the same from the rebound.

Witham looked comfortable with their lead when they did get it and limited the visitors’ possession, but the momentum of the game changed just after the half-hour mark.

Sudbury found an equaliser when David Cowley snuck behind the home defence to head in Michael Shinn’s floated cross and the visitors were clearly buoyed by the goal.

They looked the more positive for the remaining hour as Town’s attacking threat disappeared but the hosts’ defence stayed solid and a point was what both sides had to settle for at the end.

King said: “It was a good point.

“We knew what to expect from Sudbury as they are a good side and have brought in some experienced players.

“So we knew what we would get and I think it’s a good point for us to gain, but we always feel we can beat anybody.

“Over the 90 minutes, they had a lot of possession and use the ball well, but we kept our shape and I felt we defended superbly.”

Witham’s next game sees them at home against Wroxham on Tuesday (kick-off 7.45pm).